CakeDrank: The Man Who Made Me

James Louise Kuchta a.k.a. "BoomPa"

This is my grandfather. He was the most influential father figure in my life. He shaped who I am today. He bought me my first body board and we spent every summer from the age of 5 till he died at the beach. He is the reason I surf and have traveled to amazing countries doing what I love. He is the reason I live at the beach. He is the reason I help others in need. He is the reason I talk to my grandmother every week. He is the reason I like peanut chews. He is the reason I got my first car. Well I basically took it from him. I loved that Audi. He is the reason I got my first apartment in which I think I only made one rent payment. He is the reason I got a ride to school everyday. He took me when I missed the first ride my mother made with my brother. I needed that ride a lot. He is the reason I have tattoos. He had many but hated them. He hated that I had them. He is the reason I got this:

This is a portrait tattoo of my grandfather. It's a copy from a painting my grandmother did of him in the late 80's. My grandmother and I share the same birthday. He died on our birthday 3 years ago on March 16. Born on the same day as one of my favorite women and now we share that birthday with him. It's a celebration! He battled cancer for 4 years and beat it. He was so weak from the treatment that he fell down the steps and died. He was the foundation of our family. He did everything for everyone. He will always be remembered. The greatest man to ever live. I hope I can be half the man he was.